DOCSLIB.ORG

Anti-Islamic Reactions in the EU After the Terrorist Acts Against the USA

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Anti-Islamic Reactions in the EU After the Terrorist Acts Against the USA EUROPEAN MONITORING CENTRE ON RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA OBSERVATOIRE EUROPÉEN DES PHÉNOMÈNES RACISTES ET XÉNOPHOBES EUROPÄISCHE STELLE ZUR BEOBACHTUNG VON RASSISMUS UND FREMDENFEINDLICHKEIT Anti-Islamic reactions in the EU after the terrorist acts against the USA A collection of country reports from RAXEN National Focal Points (NFPs) Second report: Reactions from 25th September to 19th October The national reports are only available in English Réactions anti-islamiques dans l’UE à la suite des actes terroristes commis à l’encontre des États-Unis Un recueil des rapports nationaux des points focaux nationaux (PFN) de RAXEN Second rapport: réactions du 25 septembre au 19 octobre Les rapports nationaux sont uniquement disponible en Anglais Anti-Islamische Reaktionen in der EU nach den Terroranschlägen gegen die USA Eine Zusammenstellung von Länderberichten der nationalen Anlaufstellen von RAXEN Zweiter Bericht: Reaktionen im Zeitraum vom 25. September bis 19. Oktober Die Länderberichte stehen nur in Englischer Sprache zur Verfügungr Annex NATIONAL REPORTS These national reports are edited versions of the reports written by the National Focal Points (NFP) of the RAXEN international network following a request of the EUMC. The task of the RAXEN network is to collect reliable and comparable data (including examples of and models for “good practices”) at the European level on the phenomena of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism in order to help the EU and its Member States to take measures or formulate courses of action. This time it is composed by 14 NFPs. For further information please visit the EUMC homepage http://eumc.eu.int Table of Content Table of Content ..............................................................2 AUSTRIA ........................................................................3 BELGIUM .....................................................................12 DENMARK ..................................................................18 FINLAND......................................................................24 FRANCE........................................................................28 GERMANY ...................................................................31 GREECE........................................................................34 IRELAND......................................................................38 ITALY............................................................................41 LUXEMBURG ..............................................................44 THE NETHERLANDS..................................................46 PORTUGAL ..................................................................52 SPAIN............................................................................59 SWEDEN.......................................................................63 UNITED KINGDOM ....................................................68 2 AUSTRIA Research Centre "Discourse, Politics, Identity" (DPI), in cooperation with the Institut für Konfliktforschung (IKF) and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Menschenrechte (BIM) (located at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)) In comparison to the first period of observation (from September 11 to September 25) the second period (from September 25 to October 19) includes much more reactions related to the terrorist attacks in the USA. This is not only due to the fact that the second period covers three and a half weeks, while the first period just covered 14 days, and that the topic of the attacks and their consequences (including the military reprisal by the USA) is still one of the main issues in public and private discourses extensively reported by the Austrian media. It also relates to the fact that - after the first shock about the horrible attacks has slowly faded away - the general initial prudence and wariness, characterised by deep compassion with the terrorists’ victims, has made way for political “everyday life”. Some Austrian politicians have started to make political (including party political) capital out of the disastrous attacks – which has given rise to intensive controversial discussions in public. 1. Acts of violence or aggression towards ethnic, cultural, or religious minorities, especially Muslim/Islamic communities 1.1. Acts of violence or aggression The increase in media coverage related to the terrorist attacks and their consequences can also be related to the increase of aggressive acts against Islamic communities in Austria. There is a growing number of verbal threats via telephone and letters directed against the Islamic Community. According to a spokesperson of the Islamic Faith Community (“Islamische Glaubensgemeinschaft”), no reports on physical attacks on Muslims have been made to them until now. However, this perception of the present situation is not shared by other NGOs (see below) and regional Islamic communities like the one in Upper Austria (see http://www.religionsfreiheit.at/zorres.htm). In contrast, verbal harassment stays on the scene. Many Muslim citizens feel at least molested by jokes in their workplaces, in the streets or in public transport. Popular expressions are “What have you done again?” and, in allusion to Austrian history, “What for did our ancestors fight off the Turks, when we now let them sweep in like a flood?”. Members of the Islamic community also experience the need of many people talking about issues of Islamic religion and fundamentalism to them. The spokesperson already mentioned said: “People want to talk and check – even people that do not know me. Sometimes I feel like I should carry a sign saying: ‘Don’t worry, I’m also against terrorism’`.” 1.1.1. ZARA Report The NGO ZARA – providing counselling to victims and witnesses of racism - reports two very awful cases: The first one is a physical attack on a Turkish woman in Vienna, who was beaten by a man when just standing in the street. He walked up to her and without any warning, hit her in the 3 face and shouted “stop terrorism”. Then he went off. The woman was injured and the case was notified to the police. The second incident concerns a man of Arabic descent, who applied for a job advertised. In reaction to his very polite letter of interest and CV he received an e-mail insulting him as “crazy Muslim” and suggesting for him to “go to Afghanistan and die”. 1.1.2. The defilement of 28 graves in the Islamic part of the municipal cemetery in Linz (October 6) Another striking act of anti-Islamic violence has caused a good deal of alarm in Austria and especially among members of the Austrian Islamic community. On Saturday, October 6, an Upper Austrian Muslim discovered 28 graves in the Islamic part of the municipal cemetery in Linz that had been defiled during the night. The grave-stones of these 28 graves, which were in part cemented in, were pulled out of their anchorage and knocked over by feet, the grave parts made of wood were ripped off. The damage of property approximately amounts to ATS 300.000 (= € 21.801,85). In a first reaction, this offending and provocative violation was heavily condemned by Günther Ahmed Rusznak, speaker of the Islamic Community in Upper Austria, as well as by Andrea Kuntzl from the Social Democratic Party and by Alexander van der Bellen from the Greens (see Der Standard, October 8). Rusznak explicitly viewed the defilement as an anti- Islamic reaction to the terrorist attacks on September 11 in the USA. He reported that the Austrian Muslim citizens had not suffered any direct physical aggression since the attacks in New York and Washington until then (= October 8), but massive verbal assaults. According to Rusznak, women with headscarves have increasingly been insulted and Muslims have been called “terrorists”. Since everything starts as a small thing, so Rusznak, things must be nipped in the bud. All in all, (subliminal) fear for “islamophobia” seems to have grown among Muslims (see Der Standard, October 8). In contrast to Rusznaks view, the Upper Austrian political representatives of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the Austrian Freedom party (FPÖ), who all condemned the defilement, unison argued that Muslims in Upper Austria needed not fear for massive hostilities (see Der Standard, October 10). The head of Upper Austria’s Government, Josef Pühringer (ÖVP), declared that there would not be a “revenge on suspicion” and that making Muslims in Upper Austria responsible for the terrorist attacks in the USA would be equivalent to “Sippenhaftung” (i.e. to a liability of all the members of the Islamic community for the crimes of a few). Pühringer decisively rejected such a “Sippenhaftung” and pleaded for a peaceful “living side by side of religions and cultures”. That verbal aggression against Muslims is nothing unusual in Austria, was also reported by Hüsamettin Büyükkal, the president of the Islamic Religious Community in Linz, Upper Austria and Salzburg, at a press conference following the “inter-religious hour of commemoration” (see next section). However, following Büyükkal there has not been any institution of legal proceedings against anybody for racist attacks against Muslims in Upper Austria since the beginning of 2001 (= including October 10, see Der Standard, October 10). In his press conference, Büyükkal condemned the terrorist attacks from September 11 in a declaration of several pages in length. The president of the Islamic Religious Community in Linz, Upper Austria and Salzburg stated that the terrorist attacks must not become an occasion for transforming
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Swedish Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq
    Swedish Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq An Analysis of open-source intelligence and statistical data Linus Gustafsson Magnus Ranstorp Swedish Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq An analysis of open-source intelligence and statistical data Swedish Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq An analysis of open-source intelligence and statistical data Authors: Linus Gustafsson Magnus Ranstorp Swedish Defence University 2017 Swedish Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq: An analysis of open-source intelligence and statistical data Linus Gustafsson & Magnus Ranstorp © Swedish Defence University, Linus Gustafsson & Magnus Ranstorp 2017 No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. Swedish material law is applied to this book. The contents of the book has been reviewed and authorized by the Department of Security, Strategy and Leadership. Printed by: Arkitektkopia AB, Bromma 2017 ISBN 978-91-86137-64-9 For information regarding publications published by the Swedish Defence University, call +46 8 553 42 500, or visit our home page www.fhs.se/en/research/internet-bookstore/. Summary Summary The conflict in Syria and Iraq has resulted in an increase in the number of violent Islamist extremists in Sweden, and a significant increase of people from Sweden travelling to join terrorist groups abroad. Since 2012 it is estimated that about 300 people from Sweden have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join terrorist groups such as the Islamic State (IS) and, to a lesser extent, al-Qaeda affiliated groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra. Even though the foreign fighter issue has been on the political agenda for several years and received considerable media attention, very little is known about the Swedish contingent.
    [Show full text]
  • Islamic Psychology
    Islamic Psychology Islamic Psychology or ilm an-nafs (science of the soul) is an important introductory textbook drawing on the latest evidence in the sub-disciplines of psychology to provide a balanced and comprehensive view of human nature, behaviour and experience. Its foundation to develop theories about human nature is based upon the writings of the Qur’an, Sunnah, Muslim scholars and contemporary research findings. Synthesising contemporary empirical psychology and Islamic psychology, this book is holistic in both nature and process and includes the physical, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions of human behaviour and experience. Through a broad and comprehensive scope, the book addresses three main areas: Context, perspectives and the clinical applications of applied psychology from an Islamic approach. This book is a core text on Islamic psychology for undergraduate and postgraduate students and those undertaking continuing professional development courses in Islamic psychology, psychotherapy and counselling. Beyond this, it is also a good supporting resource for teachers and lecturers in this field. Dr G. Hussein Rassool is Professor of Islamic Psychology, Consultant and Director for the Riphah Institute of Clinical and Professional Psychology/Centre for Islamic Psychology, Pakistan. He is accountable for the supervision and management of the four psychology departments, and has responsibility for scientific, educational and professional standards, and efficiency. He manages and coordinates the RICPP/Centre for Islamic Psychology programme of research and educational development in Islamic psychology, clinical interventions and service development, and liaises with the Head of the Departments of Psychology to assist in the integration of Islamic psychology and Islamic ethics in educational programmes and development of research initiatives and publication of research.
    [Show full text]
  • Sweden 2020 International Religious Freedom Report
    SWEDEN 2020 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT Executive Summary The constitution protects “the freedom to practice one’s religion alone or in the company of others” and prohibits discrimination based on religion. In March, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) declined to hear the case of two midwives who said the regional hospitals, and by extension the state, had infringed on their religious beliefs and freedom of choice by denying them employment due to their opposition to abortion, which is legal in the country. In September, the Malmo Administrative Court overturned the Bromolla Municipality’s ban on prayer during working hours. In November, the Malmo Administrative Court overturned the ban on hijabs, burqas, niqabs, and other face- and hair-covering garments for students and employees in preschools and elementary schools introduced by Skurup and Staffanstorp Municipalities. In January, a government inquiry proposed a ban on the establishment of new independent religious schools, beginning in 2023, and increased oversight on existing schools having a religious orientation. The Migration Agency’s annual report, released in February, reported large regional variations in the assessment of asylum cases of Christian converts from the Middle East and elsewhere. Some politicians from the Sweden Democrats, the country’s third largest political party, made denigrating comments about Jews and Muslims. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and other politicians condemned anti-Semitism and religious intolerance. The Prime Minister announced his country’s endorsement of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, including its list of examples of anti- Semitism. The government continued funding programs aimed at combating racism and anti-Semitism and reducing hate crimes, including those motivated by religion.
    [Show full text]
  • Analisa Journal of Social Science and Religion Volume 01 No
    Analisa Journal of Social Science and Religion Volume 01 No. 02 December 2016 ISSN : 2502 – 5465 / e-ISSN: 2443 – 3859 Accredited by LIPI Number: 752/AU2/P2MI-LIPI/08/2016 Analisa Journal of Social Science and Religion Volume 01 No. 02 December 2016 Analisa is a peer-reviewed journal published by the Office of Religious Research and Development Ministry of Religious Affairs Semarang Indonesia. Analisa has been accredited by Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI/the Indonesian Institute of science) as an academic journal. It was stated in a decree number: 752/AU2/P2MI-LIPI/08/2016. This journal specializes in these three aspects; religious life, religious education, religious text and heritage. Analisa aims to provide information on social and religious issues through publication of research based articles and critical analysis articles. Analisa has been published twice a year in Indonesian since 1996 and started from 2016 Analisa is fully published in English as a preparation to be an international journal. Since 2015, Analisa has become Crossref member, therefore all articles published by Analisa will have unique DOI number. Advisory Editorial Koeswinarno Religious Research and Development, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Semarang, Indonesia Editor in Chief Sulaiman Religious Research and Development, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Semarang, Indonesia International Editorial Boards Florian Pohl, Emory University, United State of America Alberto Gomes, La Trobe University, Melbourne Australia Nico J.G. Kaptein, Leiden University, Leiden
    [Show full text]
  • Brochure for Exhibition
    ISLAM IN EUROPE A Photo Exhibition by Ahmed Krausen All rights reserved ©2017 01 The Umar Ibn Al Khattab Mosque, Berlin, Germany. 03 The Fatih Mosque, Düren, Germany. The Umar Ibn Al Khattab Mosque, (Turkish Ömer İbnu'l Hattâb Camii) in Berlin-Kreuzberg, was built by the The Fatih Mosque is the largest mosque in Islamic Association for Pleasant Projects (IVWP) and Düren, a small town in the former German opened in 2010. It is located at the subway station 02 industrial area "Ruhrgebiet". Görlitzer Bahnhof and is named after the early Islamic caliph Umar ibn al-Chattab. THE BILAL MOSQUE, The minaret, built in 1992, is the only one in AACHEN, GERMANY. Düren, although there are several other smaller The construction, begun in June 2004, cost around ten mosques. The Adhān (prayer call) may take million euros and has a small dome and four place publicly three times a day. The mosque unobtrusive, seven-meter high minarets on the roof, was built in the area of the former factory crowned by gilded half-moons. The prayer room has “Metallwerke” in the 1980s. The building is a capacity of more than 1,000 people with a two- under monument protection. storey gallery. The Maschari Center houses on seven floors festivals for celebrations, a Quran school, as well as boutiques, cafés and a supermarket. The Islamic Association for Charitable Project (IVWP) is part of the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects (AICP). The Maschari Center is the German center of the AICP (al-Habash), an Islamic denomination from Lebanon. 02 The Bilal Mosque, Aachen, Germany.
    [Show full text]
  • A Description of What Magisterial Authority Is When Understood As A
    Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change Series IV, Western Philosophical Studies, Volume 8 Series VIII, Christian Philosophical Studies, Volume 8 General Editor George F. McLean Towards a Kenotic Vision of Authority in the Catholic Church Western Philosophical Studies, VIII Christian Philosophical Studies, VIII Edited by Anthony J. Carroll Marthe Kerkwijk Michael Kirwan James Sweeney The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy Copyright © 2015 by The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy Box 261 Cardinal Station Washington, D.C. 20064 All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Towards a kenotic vision of authority in the Catholic Church / edited by Anthony J. Carroll, Marthe Kerkwijk, Michael Kirwan, James Sweeney. -- first edition. pages cm. -- (Cultural heritage and contemporary change. Christian philosophical studies; Volume VIII) Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Authority--Religious aspects--Catholic Church. I. Carroll, Anthony J., 1965- editor of compilation. BX1753.T6725 2014 2014012706 262'.'088282--dc23 CIP ISBN 978-1-56518-293-6 (pbk.) TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction: The Exercise of Magisterial Authority 1 in the Roman Catholic Church Anthony J. Carroll Part I: Authority in Biblical Sources Chapter I: “It Shall Not Be so among You”: Authority and 15 Service in the Synoptic Gospels Sean Michael Ryan Chapter II: Authority without Sovereignty: Towards 41 a Reassessment of Divine Power Roger Mitchell Part II: Sociological and Philosophical
    [Show full text]
  • Journal for the Study of Antisemitism
    Journal for the Study of Antisemitism Special Issue: "Contemporary Antisemitism and Racism in the Shadow of the Holocaust” Guest Editors: Karin Stoegner, Nicolas Bechter, Lesley Klaff , Philip Spencer 2015 As of April 1st 2021, this special issue is subject to a CC-BY-NC-ND license. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. Other than as provided by these licenses, no part of this article may be reproduced, transmitted, or displayed by any electronic or mechanical means without permission from the publisher or as permitted by law. Open access publication of this issue is made possible by the Journal of Contemporary Antisemitism, published by Academic Studies Press. Welcome to the Guest Editors When I first spoke to Lesley Klaff about the possibility of JSA hosting ESA conference papers, I was not exactly certain what was involved. For several years, ESA’s roster of paper presentations was top notch and often included key conceptualizations not found elsewhere. I wanted to make certain that some of the field’s best thinkers were receiving their due. JSA was located in North America, ESA was located in Europe and the gap needed to be bridged. My appreciation to Karin Stoegner and her team for their perseverance in making such fine work available to others. The papers have in common a distinct European flavor—they are nuanced and contextual driven. Except for David Patterson, the authors are European offering their perspective from what has become ground zero in displays of the new antisemitism. Europe is also ground zero for the old antisemitism and the context of the Holocaust affords certain insights that North Americans have yet to fully understand.
    [Show full text]
  • March 4, 2019 Speaker Nancy Pelosi Office of the Democratic Leader H
    March 4, 2019 Speaker Nancy Pelosi Office of the Democratic Leader H-204 U.S. Capitol Washington, D.C. 20515 Chairman Eliot Engel U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs 2170 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Engel, In light of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s recent anti-Semitic tweets, statements, and address before Islamic Relief USA on Saturday, February 23rd, we, the undersigned organizations, request that you immediately remove her as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Speaker Pelosi, you demonstrated wisdom and leadership in rebuking Rep. Omar on February 11 following her use of anti-Semitic stereotypes, and Chairman Engel, your reaction to the classic anti-Semitic trope of the charge of “dual loyalty” about American Jews, that Rep. Omar uttered this weekend at a Washington establishment, was highly appropriate, and we applaud you both for that. We hope you will continue to demonstrate your commitment to the high moral standards of your office by removing Rep. Omar, a woman who has repeatedly exhibited strong biases against the State of Israel and the Jewish people, from this critically important and sensitive committee. Rep. Omar’s presence as a keynote speaker to raise funds for Islamic Relief USA, whose parent organization and chapters have documented ties to terrorist organizations, demonstrates that she has learned next to nothing over the last few weeks when she was reprimanded by your office and by other Democrats for posting ugly, anti-Semitic attacks on Jews and their organizations. For weeks articles have been published in the United States and abroad warning about Rep.
    [Show full text]
  • Programme 2015 As
    Europa.wertvoll Europe.valued 20. bis 22. Mai 2015 | Schloss Seggau, Leibnitz 20 - 22 May 2015 | Seggau Castle, Leibnitz Forum für politische, wissenschaftliche, kulturelle, wirtschaftliche und soziale Fragen eines neuen Europas Forum for political, academic, cultural, economic and social aspects of a new Europe Pfingstdialog Steiermark 2015 www.geistundgegenwart.at Inhalt / Contents Geleitworte / Foreword ............................................................................................... 3 Memorandum Seggauberg 2013 ................................................................................ 9 Programm 2015 / Programme 2015 ......................................................................... 12 MI / WED 20.05. Keynote Europa.wertvoll / Keynote speech Europe.valued Jakob von Uexküll ........................................................................................................ 13 Europa.wertvoll DO / THU 21.05. Forum Soziologie & Integration / Sociology & Integration Forum ........................ 14 Forum Politik / Politics Forum .................................................................................. 16 Europe.valued Insieme 1 Religion, Staat und Gesellschaft / Religion, State and Society .................. 18 Insieme 2 Integration & Diversität / Integration & Diversity ......................................... 20 Insieme 3 Ökonomie / Economy ............................................................................... 22 Insieme 4 Kunst & Kultur – Freiheit und Begrenzungen Art & Culture – Freedom
    [Show full text]
  • SWEDEN and Literature Survey
    Muslims in the EU: Cities Report Preliminary research report SWEDEN and literature survey 2007 Researcher: Dr Göran Larsson, Department of Religious Studies, Theology and Classical Philology, University of Göteborg, Sweden Email address: [email protected] Table of Contents Background 4 Executive Summary 5 PART I: RESEARCH AND LITERATURE ON MUSLIMS 8 1. Population 8 1.1 Availability of data on Muslims in Sweden 8 1.2 Muslim population estimates 9 1.3 The main waves of Muslim immigration to Sweden 12 1.4 Patterns of settlement 14 2. Identity 15 2.1 Muslim ethnic identities in Sweden 15 2.2 Religious identities 15 2.3 Converts to Islam 16 2.4 Muslim female identity 17 2.5 Other areas of research 18 3. Education 19 3.1 Muslims and the Swedish education system 19 3.2 Muslims and educational attainment 19 3.3 Religious education in schools 21 3.4 Independent Islamic schools 21 3.5 Education programmes for the training of imams 23 4. Employment 24 4.1 Access to the labour market for people in Sweden born outside the EU 24 4.2 Discrimination in the labour market and other barriers to employment 25 5. Housing 27 5.1 The housing situation of Muslims in Sweden 27 6. Health and social protection 29 6.1 The health status of Muslims 29 7. Policing and security 31 7.1 Muslims’ experiences in the army 31 7.2 Muslims’ experiences in relation to criminal justice and policing 31 8. Participation and citizenship 33 8.1 Muslim participation in politics and policy-making 33 PART II: POLICY CONTEXT 35 1.
    [Show full text]
  • How Do Religion and a Religious Dialogue Foster Social Cohesion? a Study of the Inter-Religious Council of Stockholm
    UPPSALA UNIVERSITY Department of Theology Master Programme in Religion in Peace and Conflict Master thesis, 30 credits Spring, 2020 Supervisor: Håkan Bengtsson How do religion and a religious dialogue foster social cohesion? A study of the Inter-religious Council of Stockholm Sonja Esselius Abstract Europe has in recent years recognized the need of the inclusion of religions in the dialogue on social cohesion and building of its future. Analysts of the interreligious dialogue suggest that understanding the process of it may be helpful to both the initiators of such conversations as well as all the participants. The idea of different religions working together raises some questions. One of the first questions asked is whether interreligious dialogue really works. How can diverse religions dialogue when there are disputes even within the same religions and within their branches? The understanding of the process offers a better chance of such dialogue being successful and useful for the building of the world we live in. This thesis explores interreligious dialogue by looking into the interreligious council of Stockholm, which currently includes eighteen different religions, representing some of the city’s diversity, its thoughts and culture. For the analysis, we will use Orton’s discussion and recommendations. In his “Interfaith dialogue: seven key questions for theory, policy and practice” (2016), Orton considers many of the nuances involved in such dialogue. Questioning and reflections allow for the observations and insight into the complexities of interreligious dialogue which provides for better understanding of the process included. Theories and angles consider social and psychological elements, as well as religious concerns.
    [Show full text]
  • OSCE Chairmanship Conference on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Muslims Cordoba, 9 – 10 October 2007 General Contribution
    PC.DEL/952/07 Distributed at the request of Austria 9 October 2007 ENGLISH only OSCE Chairmanship Conference on Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims Cordoba, 9 – 10 October 2007 General Contribution Conference of European Imams and Ministers Vienna 2006 organized by the Islamic Religious Community in Austria in cooperation with the Austrian Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the City of Vienna and the European Islam Conference Final Declaration of the Conference Islam in Europe is theologically compatible with the principles of democracy, the rule of law, pluralism and human rights. That was the view expressed by the “Conference of Leaders of Islamic Centres and Imams in Europe” in 2003 in Graz, then European Capital of Culture. Simultaneously every form of fanatism, extremism and fatalism was clearly condemned. This was not only an important signal to Muslims, but should also, through the emphasis on participation, promote the integration and identification processes of Muslims in Europe, who now constitute a community of approximately 50 million people of diverse origin. As evidence of Muslim self-awareness, an important explanatory signal should also be sent to non-Muslims in order to counteract their fear and reservations and to strengthen cooperation in peace, mutual understanding and respect. In 2006, the conference participants clearly had to recognize that still greater efforts from all sides are required in order to achieve the acceptance of the Muslims by the majority society. In various European countries social and economic tensions are simultaneously related to an often aggressive and emotionally charged “foreigner debate”. Muslims are used as a group in order to create a picture of “foreigners”, which in times of insecurity strengthens discrimination.
    [Show full text]